If you are heading up to Mount Kinabalu, you must stop to try the Sabah durians at Pekan Nabalu, just before reaching the Kinabalu National Park.
For me, I had the opportunity to sample some of the world's most unique durians here. And the best part is that they are really small, compared to the standard durians. This also depends on the season too.
Durians at Pekan Nabalu
At Pekan Nabalu, you will most likely find the famous Sabah red-colored durian, which would be the Sukang or Tabelak from the Ranau area of Sabah.
The entire contents of the red Sukang durian are in deep red color and are highly sourced by the locals.
For me, I had the opportunity to sample some of the world's most unique durians here. And the best part is that they are really small, compared to the standard durians. This also depends on the season too.
Durians at Pekan Nabalu
At Pekan Nabalu, you will most likely find the famous Sabah red-colored durian, which would be the Sukang or Tabelak from the Ranau area of Sabah.
The entire contents of the red Sukang durian are in deep red color and are highly sourced by the locals.
Located along Jalan Ranau, the town of Nabalu is the last stop before reaching Mount Kinabalu and it is more of a tourist stop.
But locals always make a stopover, especially to catch the view of the mountain, and usually in the mornings or evenings.
At Pekan Nabalu, the local Kadazan Dusun people sell their local handicraft here and there must be at least 20 over stalls available.
The best time to visit this interesting place is also on weekends or holidays when more tourists and locals are traveling.
Pekan Nabalu Rest Stop
Mount Kinabalu in the morning 7am
At the rest stop, there is a dedicated area serving some food and drinks by local people who live around the area of Nabalu.
You can get very simple local food there and also canned drinks, or you can opt to try out the local coffee and tea here. A basic and clean toilet is available around the area.
You can get very simple local food there and also canned drinks, or you can opt to try out the local coffee and tea here. A basic and clean toilet is available around the area.
For those who travel up here early in the mornings, you should take advantage of the incredible views from Pekan Nabalu.
The view of Mount Kinabalu from the viewing platform is one of the best I have seen and on a clear day.
If you want to get really nice sunrise views, I suggest you arrive there just before 6.00 am. The platform area is large therefore you can do our selfies or take photographs from different angles.
Well, since we are on the topic of durians, I would like to share one durian experience at home. I once bought a super large Durian which cost me RM45.00, from a local durian stall in SS2, Petaling Jaya.
Just take a look at the size of it compared with a common cigarette box. The guy that sold me the durian told me it was Durian King or Raja Durian, the largest durian in the family. And, I sure had a time of my life trying to finish it.
Just take a look at the size of it compared with a common cigarette box. The guy that sold me the durian told me it was Durian King or Raja Durian, the largest durian in the family. And, I sure had a time of my life trying to finish it.
Map to Nabalu Town in Sabah
View Nabalu Town in a larger map
Conclusion
Durians at Pekan Nabalu are seasonal so please check with the locals or your tour guide on when is the full fruiting season.
To my knowledge, July and August are the fruiting seasons for the red durians. But I was also told that they fruit twice a year nowadays, or even three times.